Andaman Sightseeing

29 km from Port Blair, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor covers an area of 281.5 sq km and is made-up of open sea, creeks and 15 small and large islands. It is one of the best in the world offering views of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats, scuba diving and snorkeling. Gandhi Park at Port Blair offers amusement rides, safe water sports, nature trails around the lake, historic ruins of a Japanese Temple, garden and bunker. It had been developed in merely 13 days. 14 km from Port Blair, Sippighat Farm is a government farm sprawling over an area of 80 acres, where research and development programmes for cultivation of spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and pepper are conducted.

25 km from Port Blair is Chidiya Tapu, the southern most tip of South Andaman with lush green mangroves, multitude of birds, sylvan sands and Munda pahar beaches. One can get excellent views of see isolated islands; submerged corals and enchanting sunset from the forest guesthouse situated on top of a hillock. 36 km from Port Blair, Collinpur has a beautiful sandy beach with shallow waters suitable for swimming, sunbathing and watching sunset. 20 km ferry ride from Port Blair, Madhuban is a superb trekking area, north east of South Andaman, with outlandish endemic birds, animals, butterflies and elephants engaged in lumbering. 55 km from Port Blair, Mt Harriet is an ideal place for bird eye's view of the outer islands and the sea. It was the summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj. 365 m high, it is the highest peak in the South Andamans. Mini Zoo at Haddo housing some of the rare species of indigenous endemic birds and animals are yet another attraction of these islands.

The Nicobars abound in coconut palm, casuarina and pandanus trees. The fauna of Great and Little Nicobar islands consist of Giant Robber Crab, long-tailed Monkeys, Nicobarese Pigeons and Megapode, a rare bird found in Great Nicobar. The Indira Point (formerly known as Pygmallion Point), the southernmost tip of India is Great Nicobar Island. Car Nicobar, the headquarters of Nicobar District, is covered with cluster of coconut palms and enchanting beaches. Nicobari huts are unique and are built on stilts and have entrance through the floor with a wooden ladder. Katchal, a tiny island in the Nicobar group was honored with the first sunrise of the new millennium on 1st January 2000 and has beautiful beaches at East bay, Jhula and West bay.

A fortnight long Island Tourism Festival organized by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration annually in December to January exhibits developmental aspects of these islands. It features cultural programs and performances by artistes of national and international fame from all over India including the native tribals. Water sports competitions such as Nicobari Hodi Race, Canoe Race and Scuba Diving are organized and the festival focuses on eco-friendly tourist destination. Block Mela annually at Diglipur in January or February highlights the development of the rural areas and typical rural life of these islands. Science Centre in Port Blair displays the genesis of the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago through interactive exhibits, explains the science of oceans, the flora and fauna of the islands, Fun Science gallery, Modern Technology gallery, Taramandal, the portable planetarium of this centre, and the open-air science park featuring the only in-house Butterfly corner of the islands.